Coaches and executives around the league are trying to pinpoint why a Green Bay Packers offense that seemed poised for greatness after a torrid close to the 2024 season is struggling to find direction. Most key metrics indicate that quarterback Jordan Love remains among the premier passers in the NFL, and he’s certainly curbed the turnover issue that plagued him a year ago. But the team has failed to find consistency, and even Coach Matt LaFleur, one of the most successful regular season coaches in the last seven seasons, has seemed bewildered by their predicament.
Coaches and executives around the league are trying to pinpoint why a Green Bay Packers offense that seemed poised for greatness after a torrid close to the 2024 season is struggling to find direction. Most key metrics indicate that quarterback Jordan Love remains among the premier passers in the NFL, and he’s certainly curbed the turnover issue that plagued him a year ago. But the team has failed to find consistency, and even Coach Matt LaFleur, one of the most successful regular season coaches in the last seven seasons, has seemed bewildered by their predicament.
After scoring just 20 points total in consecutive home losses (only the third time the Packers have two straight losses at Lambeau Field since 2018), including a shocking upset by the Carolina Panthers and a total smothering by the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense, there are plenty of questions about why a young team that nearly broke through for a Super Bowl run in 2023 has been so staggered in 2025. The Packers (5-3-1) lack a singular pass-catching weapon, especially with top tight end Tucker Kraft lost for the season to injury, seem to be bereft of dependable playmakers, and are in jeopardy of wasting what has been a truly elite defense buoyed by the preseason addition of star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
“I love their roster and Matt is so tough to go up against and I think that’s a top 10 quarterback,” said an NFL head coach over the summer. The coach spoke on the condition of anonymity to critically discuss another team. “But I’m not totally sold on the receiver room. I think you need an alpha in there, a real dog, and I’m not sure I see one. … We were pretty high on the kid they drafted [first-round pick Matthew Golden], but you know how that goes with rookie receivers. How long does it take for the lightbulb to turn on?”
With the trade deadline passed, and many of the Packers receivers banged up (including Golden), it’s difficult to see this situation improving markedly as the weather turns and it becomes increasingly difficult to move the ball through the air. Thus far, it’s been arguably too much of do-everything running back Josh Jacobs and not enough of anything else.
A year ago, Green Bay’s wide receivers had 63.9 percent of the team’s targets — sixth-most in the NFL — but this season that number has slumped to 50.7 percent (26th). Running backs are accounting for nearly 20 percent of the passing game, and, in what has seemingly been a quest to make Love the ultimate point guard, Green Bay may have strayed too far from having a sufficient go-to receiver.
Jacobs has 190 touches, and he and backup running back Emanuel Wilson have combined for nearly 54 percent of all of the team’s offensive touches. No one else has even 34 combined carries and receptions, with Jacobs alone accounting for 26 percent of their scrimmage yards.
“Think about all of the impact receivers who have been traded the last three years,” said one high-ranking NFL executive whose team has added a receiver via trade in that span and who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he’s not allowed to publicly discuss players on other teams. “I’m surprised [General Manager Brian Gutekunst] didn’t push more to get one.”
For years the Packers heard complaints — including from former quarterback Aaron Rodgers — about not investing enough in the receiver position. Injuries alone don’t explain why this offense has been so off kilter.
“That’s not a good enough excuse,” NFL Network analyst Cynthia Frelund said when trying to dissect what’s amiss with Green Bay’s offense, “and how are they going to adapt?”
The Packers have just one wide receiver in the top 60 in receiving yards (Romeo Doubs with 446) and also just one wide receiver with more than 25 receptions this season (also Doubs, who got dinged up over the weekend). That’s neither diverse or impactful enough. They have leaned much more into 12 personnel this season (two tight ends on the field), but are just a middling outfit in terms of production from that subset, and with Kraft’s injury the answers aren’t going to come from multiple tight end groupings now.
It may be unfair to place too much blame on Love. While his footwork and fundamentals can sometimes dip, and he’s seemed more flustered and frustrated lately, he’s improved his passer rating from 96.7 last season to 103 this season (eighth in the NFL). And Jacobs remains one of the premier drive finishers in the NFL with 11 touchdowns (most in the NFC).
Green Bay’s use of motion has dipped from 71.1 percent a year ago to 60.2 percent this season. The Packers could also benefit from utilizing more under-center, play-action shots (not in the pistol or shotgun).
“The Eagles’ defense was calling out the play on fourth-and-one (Monday night),” NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said. “There’s probably a lack of creativity there. … That’s never good for the play caller.”
With five division games still to be played, the Packers have abundant opportunity to rewrite the script of their season. It’s fair to wonder, however, if this year LaFleur has the proper plume, and receivers, required to do so.
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